Foldable captive ball game apparatus



July 26, 1966 I 5. HODLICK 3,262,703

FOLDABLE CAPTIVE BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1965 United States Patent This invention relates generally to captive ball games, and more particularly to captive ball game constructions for indoor use by persons from a seated or lying position, such as invalids for physical therapy.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel captive ball game-construction for indoor use which is easily folded for carrying and storage, which is easily set up for use, and which may easily be played by persons seated or reclining.

It is a further object to provide a novel assembly for the parts of a captive ball game permitting easy assembly and disassembly thereof.

It is still another object to provide a novel ball tethering arrangement for a captive ball game which permits the line and ball to be easily suspended from the arm of the standard and which prevents the line from Winding about the arm when the ball is hit over the arm.

A novel feature of the invention i the resultant convenient playing thereof by persons sitting or reclining in beds such as between two hospital beds for physical' therapy and entertainment.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a captive ball game constructed according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken substan-' tially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 disclosing the tethering arrangement for the ball; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of securing the ball to the line.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Generally, the construction of the invention comprises a relatively heavy base member which may be positioned on a floor or tabletop. A vertical standard is hingedly connectedto the base member and adjustable in either an upright position or with' the base member folded thereagainst for carrying and storage thereof. The standard carries a hooked rod for drawing the tethered ball toward a player when the ball is beyond the reach of the player. An arm is hingedly connected adjacent one end thereof to the upper end of the standard and means is provided for carrying the arm either in a generally horizontal extended position or in a folded condition against the standard for carrying and storage thereof. At the extending end of the arm a certain tethering arrangement of a ball is carried. The tethering arrangement permits the line and ball to be easily connected to the arm or removed therefrom, and further provides that when the ball is hit over the arm, the line and ball will fall over the arm without being wrapped thereabout. The line for the ball includes an arrangement for adjusting the effective length thereof, and the ball is carried at the lower end of the line. In the present embodiment, the ball is formed of a relatively soft and light material such as foamed polyurethane or polyester. Any elastomer material having a density of about 6 pounds per square foot is a suitable material for the ball.

It is contemplated that the game of the subject in- 3,262,703 Patented July 26, 1966 lC e vention be generally played by two persons with short paddles such as used in the game of Pingpong. The persons are disposed one on each side of the extending arm, and under an appropriate set of rules, the ball is struck back and forth along various paths between the players.

In detail, the base member 10 is generally rectangular in shape, and preferably made of a relatively heavy material to provide good support for the standard and arm. Four pads 11 are secured to the underside of the base member 10 at the four corners thereof to prevent the base member 10 from scratching any surface upon which it is placed. A pair of spaced apart flange members 12 are secured to the base member 10 at one end thereof to upstand therefrom in a spaced apart relationship to each other. The flanges 12 are secured to the base member 10 by four screws 13 extending from the underside of the base member 10 upwardly into the flanges 12.

A standard 15, which may be formed-of any suitable material such as wood, is formed as a relatively long rod. The width of the standard is substantially equal to the spacing between the flanges 12. A hinge 16 is provided and is secured between the lower end of the standard 15 and the upper surface of the base member 10 immediately forwardly of the flanges 12. This arrangement permits the base member 10 to be manually folded upwardly against the standard 15 for carrying and storage thereof. The standard 15 is secured in an upright position by bolt and wing nut assembly 17. The bolt is journaled through the upper end of the flanges 12 and the standard 15 to secure the standard 15 in an upright position. It is preferred that when the standard 15 is in the upright position, the standard 15 be tilted slightly rearwardly or toward the end of the base member 10 to which the flanges 12 are secured.

An arm 18 is provided for supporting the ball from the standard 15. The arm 18 may be formed of any suitable material such as wood. Spaced from one end of the arm 18, one half of a hinge 20 is secured. The other half of the hinge 20 is secured to the upper end of the standard 15 on the same side thereof that the hinge 16 at the lower end of the standard 15 is secured. The upper end of the standard 15 is provided with a short peg 21, and the underside of the arm 18 is provided with a cooperating hole, so that when the arm 18 is raised to a position slightly above the horizontal, the hole in the arm 18 will receive the peg 21 to flrmly secure the arm 18 against sidewise pivoting. The arm 18 is maintained in the extended position by a hook and eye assembly 22. The hook is secured into the standard 15 on the side thereof opposite from the hinge 20, and the eye is secured to depend from the underside of the arm 18 substantially at the rearward end thereof. When the hook and eye assembly 22 is opened, the arm 18 may be pivoted to lower the extending end thereof, to fold the arm 18 against the standard 15. With the arm 18 folded against the standard 15, and with the base member 10 also folded against the standard 15 a convenient arrangement is provided for carrying and storing the game. 1

The extending end of the arm 18 is provided with a l-shaped screw member 24 which is threaded into the end of the arm 18 at a position so that when the member 24 i in its raised position, the free end thereof is substantially in line with the upper surface of the arm 18, and when the member 24 is turned to its lower position, the free end thereof extends below the end of the arm 18 to permit the line assembly to be inserted or removed therefrom. This arrangement of the member 24 provides means for placing the line thereon, and in the raised and locked position thereof importantly provides that when the ball and line have been hit over the arm 18, the line will slide over the top surface of the arm 18 and member 24 to drop the line and ball to depend therefrom without Winding of the line about the arm 18.

The line assembly comprises a swivel fitting 25, one end of which is insertable on the member 24 when the member 24 is turned to its lower position. A line 26 is looped through the other end of the swivel fitting 25. One end of the line 26 extends through the ball 27 and is fastened to a small button 28. The ball 27 is provided with a piece of tape 30 about the area where the line 26 enters the ball 27. A slide member 31 having two holes therethrough is carried on the line 26 between the ball 27 and the swivel fitting 25. The other end of the line 26 is secured to the slide member 31. By appropriately moving the slide member 31 along the line 26 the effective length of the line 26 may be lengthened or shortened.

In a reduction to practice of the invention it has been found that in the use thereof for physical therapy, the ball 27 is preferably formed of a relatively light and spongy material to enable a person to strike the ball with a paddle rather hard without producing excessive speed of the ball toward the opposing player. The speed of the game is of course determined by the type of ball used. A retriever 33 is provided to enable players, who are unable to reach the ball 27 when hanging at rest, to draw the line 26 and ball 27 toward them and thereby initiate a play. The retriever 33 is a relatively long rod formed of a light material, and is provided with a hook 34 at one end thereof. The rearward side of the standard 15 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced apart eyebolts for storing the retriever 33. The retriever is stored by inserting the lower end thereof through the lower eye- !bolt 35 and by placing the hook 34 into the upper eyebolt 35.

The modification as shown in FIGURE 4 concerns an alternate construction for securing the line or cord to the playing ball. Primarily, this modified construction shields the line from the impact of a playing paddle. As shown in FIGURE 4, the modified ball is indicated at 36. The spherical ball is provided with a straight hole 37 passing through the center thereof. A piece of clear flexible plastic tubing 38 of a relatively small diameter is inserted through the hole 37 in the ball 36. The plastic tubing 38 shields the line or cord 39 from direct contact :by the playing paddles. In the modified form, the line 39 passes through the plastic tubing 38. In order to securely hold the line and tubing from relative longitudinal movement, the line 39 is drawn out through the plastic tubing at 40 and then wrapped a number of times at 41 around the outside of the tubing, whereafter it is passed internally of the tubing at 42 and thence downwardly for fastening to a light plastic or the like button 43. The method of assembling those elements is accomplished by threading the cord or line 39 on a needle which is inserted through approximately /3 of the length of the tube. The needle then pierces the wall of the flexible tubing and the cord is drawn through the wall of the tube at 40. At this point, a number of turns of the cord 39 are made around the outer surface of the tubing in order to securely grip and hold the tubing, Whereafter the needle then pierces the wall or the tubing at 42 and is carried out the bottom of the tube to attach to the small lightweight button 43. The cord 39 is passed through the two holes of the plastic button 43 and the button 43 is slid to the lower end of the tubing 38 where it is firmly tied in place.

The modification of FIGURE 4 thus provides for the shielding of the line or cord 39 in the captive ball game of this invention. The plastic tubing is sufliciently strong to absorb the full impact of a paddle swing without damage thereto. This insures that the game will last having a width substantially equal to the distance between said flanges, a hinge secured between one side of said standard at the lower end thereof and said base member at a position between said flanges and on the side thereof remote from said one end of said base member, whereby said standard is alternatively positionable in a substantially upright position between said flanges and with said base member folded against said standard, an arm, a second hinge secured between said one side of said standard at the upper end thereof and the underside of said arm at a position spaced from one end thereof, whereby said arm is alternatively positionable in a raised generally horizontal position with the underside of said arm engaging the top of said standard and in a folded position with said arm against said one side of said standard, a ball and a line, means securing one end of said line to said ball, means securing the other end of said line to the other end of said arm, means for securing said standard in an upright position between said flanges, and means for securing said arm in a generally horizontal position with said arm engaging the top of said standard.

2. In a captive ball game as defined in claim 1, and

a .ball retriever comprising a rod of a length shorter than the length of said standard, a hook at one end of said rod, a pair of eyebolts carried on the side of said standard opposite from said one side thereof and in a spaced apart relationship to each other, said retriever being insertable through one of said eyebolts with the hook of said retriever engaging the other of said eyebolts to removably carry said retriever on said standard.

3. In a captive ball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for securing said standard in an upright position between said flanges comprises a bolt and wing nut assembly, said bolt journaled through the upper ends of said flanges and through a hole in said standard when said standard is in said upright position, and said wing nut threaded on said bolt to secure said standard in said upright position.

4. In a captive ball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for securing said arm in a generally horizontal position against the top of said standard comprises a hook and eye assembly, said hook and eye assembly carried between said standard on the side thereof opposite from said one side and the underside of said arm at said one end thereof.

5. In a captive ball game as defined in claim 4, a peg carried on the top of said standard to extend upwardly therefrom, and a hole formed in the underside of said arm at a position thereon so that when said arm is in said generally horizontal position said peg is disposed in said hole in the underside of said arm.

6. In a captive ball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said ball is formed of a relatively light elastomer material, and said means for securing one endof said line to said ball comprises the insertion of said one end of said line through said ball, a button secure-d to said one end of said line and engaging the surface of said ball, and a piece of tape carried on the surface of said ball about said line on the side of said ball opposite from said button.

7. In a captive ball game as defined in claim 6, and a length of plastic tubing carried on said line and extending through said ball, said length of tubing extending upwardly from the upper surface of said ball adistance sufficient to substantially prevent striking of said line by a paddle used in the play of said game, and means for anchoring said tubing to said line against relative longitudinal movement.

8. In a captive ball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for securing said line to said other end of said arm comprises a generally J-shaped member having a long leg and a short leg, said long leg rotatively carried in said other end of said arm, said J-shaped member further shaped so that a loop on said line is insertable thereon when said short leg thereof is disposed downwardly and when said J-shaped member is rotated to dispose said short leg above said long leg the extending end of said short leg engages said other end of said arm substantially in line with the upper surface of said arm and with said line locked on said I-shaped member.

9. In a captive ball game, a base member, a pair of spaced apart flanges secured on said base member to upstand therefrom, a standard having a width substantial- 1y equal to the distance between said flanges, a hinge secured between one side of said standard at the lower end thereof and said base member at a position between said flanges, whereby said standard is alternatively positionable in a substantially upright position between said flanges and with said base member folded against said standard, an arm, a second hinge secured between said one side of said standard at the upper end thereof and the underside of said arm at a position spaced from one end thereof, whereby said arm is alternatively positionable in a raised generally horizontal position with the underside of said arm engaging the top of said standard and in a folded position with said arm against said one side of said standard, a ball and a line, means securing one end of said line to said ball, means securing the other end of said line to the other end of said arm, means for securing said standard in an upright position between said flanges, and means for securing said arm in a generally horizontal position with said arm engaging the top of said standard.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,699 7/1896 White 248-158 1,345,789 7/ 1920 Linley 273 2,186,016 1/1940 Evans 27358 X 2,606,025 8/1952 Hornig 273-95 X 2,747,873 5/1956 Carroad 27358 X 2,751,226 6/1956 Conway 27395 X 3,166,317 1/1965 Tumelson 27395 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

9. IN A CAPTIVE BALL GAME, A BASE MEMBER, A PAIR OF SPACED APART FLANGES SECURED ON SAID BASE MEMBER TO UPSTAND THEREFROM, A STANDARD HAVING A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, A HINGE SECURED BETWEEN ONE SIDE OF SAID STANDARD AT THE LOWER END THEREOF AND SAID BASE MEMBER AT A POSITION BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, WHEREBY SAID STANDARD IS ALTERNATIVELY POSITIONABLE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT POSITION BETWEEN SAID FLANGES AND WITH SAID BASE MEMBER FOLDED AGAINST SAID STANDARD, AN ARM, A SECOND HINGE SECURED BETWEEN SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID STANDARD AT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ARM AT A POSITION SPACED FROM ONE END THEREOF, WHEREBY SAID ARM IS ALTERNATIVELY POSITIONABLE IN A RAISED GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ARM ENGAGING THE TOP OF SAID STANDARD AND IN A FOLDED POSITION WITH SAID ARM AGAINST SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID STANDARD, A BALL AND A LINE, MEANS SECURING ONE END OF SAID LINE TO SAID BALL, MEANS SECURING THE OTHER END OF SAID LINE TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ARM, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID STANDARD IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID ARM IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION WITH SAID ARM ENGAGING THE TOP OF SAID STANDARD. 